Oregon’s top librarian promotes value of her Lewis & Clark education

Catherine Sergeant B.A. ’70, M.A.T. ’75 has been named Librarian of the Year by the Oregon Association of School Libraries. Sergeant is head librarian of the Jefferson County School District, which consists of six school libraries.

During her time as head librarian, Sergeant has made many positive operational changes. Perhaps most significant is that Madras High School’s library has become “the hub of the school,” according to the Madras Pioneer. Sergeant has made it into a space where students feel comfortable, whether they’re eating lunch or working on academic projects.

As a prospective college student, Sergeant was attracted to Lewis & Clark’s renowned music program. After studying music at the College of Arts and Sciences, she went on to receive a degree in music education from the Graduate School of Education and Counseling. Sergeant taught music classes at the elementary school level for 25 years before starting work as the elementary library coordinator of her current district in 2006.

In her award acceptance speech, Sergeant detailed what she had discovered in her many years of teaching—“No matter what subject I have taught, the rules of thumb are always the same: be open, be honest, be helpful, love your students, form relationships, have a sense of humor, and learn something new every day.”

“Attending Lewis & Clark was the most eye-opening experience of my life,” Sergeant added. “I bring this experience with me on a daily basis, as I teach students to think critically, be strong, be compassionate, and to never stop learning or growing.”